Autonet Mobile in-car WiFi router goes national with Amazon availability

So, what does a company do when the two major outfits hired on to install its wares go belly-up? Why, put the power in the hands of the people, of course! After spending entirely too much time with Chrysler and General Motors, Autonet Mobile has decided to give consumers another option for having an in-car WiFi router installed: Amazon. Starting now, those interested in shoving a hotspot in their vehicle can purchase the router for $299.99 after rebate and handle the install themselves, but none of this makes that $29 monthly charge any easier to swallow.

[ratchetnclank @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:34AM]

Now you can browse while you drive!

[Joseph @ Jun 23rd 2009 1:31PM]

Yooooooo Dawg! I heard you like the interwebz.

[GadgetGeek @ Jun 23rd 2009 3:02PM]

There are tons of cheaper 3g router options you can use with a power inverter? Whats the point of over paying for this device? It doesn't even support encryption??? come on really...

[Eric B @ Jun 24th 2009 3:09PM]

Get a Sprint MiFi, it rocks. And it's cheaper. And you can use it without a car.

[Florin @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:36AM]

With stuff like Verizon's MiFi out, why would anyone want to pay good money for an insanely bulky device such as this?

[JStro @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:40AM]

Because the average non-engadget reader doesn't know any better.

[MJZimmer88 @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:50AM]

Wait... there are people who DON'T read Engadget? They must deserve to pay for this junk.

(And I TOTALLY want one)

[MJZimmer88 @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:50AM]

Oh yeah... I also want a car

...that'd be nice too

[mike k. @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:25AM]

Honestly, this is half the price per month than the mifi router.. 300 bucks for this at 30 bucks a month, 1 year contract ... whereas 100 bucks for a 60 dollar a month and a 2 year contract. Besides the bulkiness of it, you'd even out the 300 dollar cost to the mifi's 100 dollar cost in 7 months, and you wouldn't have a 2 year contract, you'd only have a 1 year contract for it....

The only thing I can say is its probably a slower 3G than verizon maybe, and i don't see anything about where it gets coverage in comparison to verizon...

[squeeg @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:56AM]

Um, they drive a Cadillac... I can't imagine why they'd want an overpriced, bulky device... Can you?? hmmmm....

[Steve @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:04AM]

We could be nice and post reviews warning the potential buyers....

Or we can just point and laugh at the suckers

[Sohel @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:37AM]

agree with Florin

[jalapeno @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:39AM]

The tiny MiFi available from both Sprint and Verizon makes this product obsolete.

[Ari @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:41AM]

Autonet Mobile Service Costs

Activation Fee: $35.00
1-Year minimum Service Agreement required:
$29 per month for 1GB Plan
$59 per month for 5GB Plan
Click here for Autonet Mobile's Coverage Map

[Aguiluz @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:19AM]

I cant click it! *sad face*

[Ari @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:33AM]

Haha didnt see that last line. Just wanted to show the info, not sure how i feel about it. But in this day and age to put a full size wifi router in your car is ridiculous, just compare to mifi. Its time these things are built into the cars already. Then we would have wifi everywhere, which the providers shouldnt mind since we're all forced into data plans anyway.

[Wolfgame @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:41AM]

This is actually fairly brilliant ... I work in NYC, primarilly, so free wi-fi is generally just about anywhere I want it if I'm willing to stand still long enough. However I've been on a number of construction sites where someone needed to grab some updated blueprints or reference some e-mail from an architect in Germany (no shit, this has happened more than once) and while the e-mail was mostly not a problem with a decent crackberry, opening massive PDFs really needs a laptop.

Just last week, I needed to pull up documentation for a home automation system, and the house was still being put together, so this would've kicked ass.

Now I just need to buy a car to put it in ....

[goincrazey @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:44AM]

Not a terrible idea if you want to get the cable company off your back. Just park your car in the garage. Wi-fi for the house!

[krische @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:46AM]

Or just get a MiFi

[Chris @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:17AM]

Maximum of 19 mW of broadcast power. I'm pretty sure you were speaking with your tongue firmly placed in your cheek, but I just thought I would mention that.

[GadgetGeek @ Jun 23rd 2009 3:05PM]

and finding your dead car battery by morning....

[krische @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:45AM]

Does anyone know what network this uses? My guess would be either Sprint or Verizon.

[Chris @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:12AM]

They use a leased network, here in Houston it connects to Verizon towers. My friend and I did a review of it while connected to a dodge caravan (he's a texas auto writer) and it benched slower than using his sprint phone as a wireless router.

[Ari @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:30AM]

I did some google searching and theyre really ambiguous. A post from before 2007 (?) CES when this was announced seemed to say they would use all and any networks. It would be awesome if they combined GSM and EVDO radios, use the HSDPA where available for higher speeeds and fall back on Verizon. But very unclear, and odd.

[Chris @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:50AM]

That would be nice, but I'm not sure that is what happened in my case. I live across the street from IAH so pretty much all cell signals are at 100% there and it still picked EV-DO (Verizon) and said it was Roaming with 100% signal strength. The Sprint service we measured it against was around three times as fast in the same location. I would like to see it jump to a HSUPA and see how it does though.

[dannyvm @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:46AM]

this bulky device is cheaper in the long run .

[AndyS @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:51AM]

Why wouldn't you just get one of those near credit card sized EVDO access points that support up to 5 clients and cost around $100? I guess this is less per month, but much less flexible as it's stuck in your car...

[Victor Agreda Jr @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:16AM]

Which is exactly what they should have done to begin with. Sure, cozying up to a "solid" partner like a major auto co. seems like a great bullet point when pitching to VC's -- but back on Earth those auto makers are dumber than a Moto StarTac.

If you do a lot of driving (not alone, I hope, or if you're a trucker please wait to connect until you are parked) or have an RV, this is totally awesome.

[adml_shake @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:15AM]

I would be interested in something like this (or any cell data service) if they would remove the ridiculous data caps on the plans.

[jk01 @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:16AM]

Crutchfield had this before Amazon did. so this isnt really news

[CreepinJesus @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:29AM]

I'm sorry, but... WiFi... in your car?

[big_psirex @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:50AM]

Like people need another distraction while driving....

[Jim @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:51AM]

This is going to be the hottest gadget of the year. We need it for Public Transportation, too.
http://jamesmsingleton.com

[Jeremy @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:57AM]

I thought it might be a cheaper route then the typical AT&T, Verizon, or the like data plan. Nope, not really. Check the rates.

Sure it's $29 for 1GB ?!?!??!

$59 for that seemingly standard 5GB

So the only advantage is that it's less per month if you use it VERY little. Otherwise better to get the MiFi or similar. The Autonet could be easier for someone less technical to set-up but the MiFi is more versatile in a number of situations.

Yes, Autonet is intended for the "Auto" but I think we're all thinking beyond that.

And why is it only 802.11b/g and no 802.11n. Shouldn't everything be "n" by now?

[CreepinJesus @ Jun 23rd 2009 12:09PM]

Tis still a draft I think.

[Joseph @ Jun 23rd 2009 1:34PM]

pretty sure it doesnt matter at 3.6Mbps

[PEZ @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:17AM]

The question is.. what do you get for $30/m?

[Bacaramac @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:59AM]

Wi-Fi in your car would be great for laptops, iPod Touch, etc. I wouldn't use it as a replacement for your iPhone service, but for non cellular based devices this great.

[Erock @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:21AM]

Holler

[Heavytoka @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:22AM]

I could really use this

[Richard @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:56AM]

If you are really all that into mobile internet get a smartphone and tether

[Troy @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:49AM]

I'd like one!

[west town @ Jun 23rd 2009 12:32PM]

I think you all are missing the point...

[weston @ Jun 23rd 2009 12:36PM]

if you have a mobile van that sells goods or services
-or- if you have a shuttle bus or any other type of transpertation that business people use and want to add value
-or- if you have a construction site, open house, or anyother type of location that is static for a day or a week (think real estate)
-or- ...

Lots of posibilities

[The Police @ Jun 23rd 2009 2:31PM]

Hmm. Joikuspot + N95 = In-car hotspot. Better yet, "In-anywhere you have cellular service" hotspot.

[makegood @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:30PM]

The smash-and-grabbers here in DC can't WAIT for everyone to start buying this.

[cherylwasem @ Jul 30th 2009 10:32AM]

This is one of the best gadgets I have ever gotten and luckily I got it at a discount. Click here to check it out...and it works out so great because my parking space at my apartment complex is right outside my living room sliding glass door, so as long as i am in the living room, i can log onto the internet as well, without even being in my car..I love it.

Oiginally got it for a job Ihad where I had to drive from place to place...I no longer work there, but I kept the Autonet Mobile anyway.